At the end of Bruce Reed's final meeting Tuesday on Lower Merion Township's yearslong City Avenue District rezoning project, he encouraged officials, business leaders and residents to keep their discussions as interactive as possible.

"It seems to me that the dynamic at the workshop is much more constructive than the hearing," the outgoing Board of Commissioners president said after two hours of freeform talks among the dozens of attendees. "I think this has been our best one. I sort of hate to lose this format."

The rezoning committee Reed has helmed met Tuesday for the first time since November, hashing out proposed changes in use along City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd and along the major streets behind it, which could boost the township's commercial development. (A copy of the proposed ordinance can be found next to this article.)

In particular, residents near the intersection of St. Asaph's Road and Belmont Avenue are concerned about the prospect of a height limit escalating from the current 65 feet to 120 feet. Managers of the Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center have said that is crucial to allow revitalization of that complex.

Said planning director Bob Duncan, "If you leave the height at 65 feet ... I'm not sure they're encouraged to do anything with that."

Four more meetings--some public hearings, some freeform workshop discussions like Tuesday's--are scheduled before the project timeline calls for the commissioners to vote May 18. David Haas, representative of the Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd, said he doubts such an "aggressive" timeline is feasible: "There's so many details that still need to be worked through."

That includes plans for additional parking, something slated for discussion Tuesday night but left for the next session, Jan. 25. Partly at Reed's behest, those present agreed to make that session an open discussion like Tuesday's, rather than a less flexible public hearing.

Reed's last day as commissioner will be Jan. 19. He said he believed Commissioner George Manos, another rezoning committee member, would lead the panel after his departure.